Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – The Bay man accused of injuring multiple people in two pedestrian crashes in Jonesboro was given a $5 million cash/surety bond by a judge Monday and could be in prison for life if convicted.

Judge Chris Thyer found probable cause Aug. 17 to charge 43-year-old Michael Vincent Coleman with the following offenses:

  • First-degree homicide (Class Y felony)
  • Three counts of criminal attempt (Class A felony)
  • Second-degree battery (Class D felony)
  • Killing/injuring an animal used by law enforcement agency (Class D felony)
  • Fleeing (Class A misdemeanor)
  • Resisting arrest (Class A misdemeanor)

The hearing comes after Coleman was arrested the night of Aug. 13 when court documents said he injured multiple people at two locations.

| READ MORE: UPDATE: Two Pedestrian-Hit Incidents Under Investigation in Jonesboro

According to the probable cause affidavit, Jonesboro police officers first responded to Craighead Forest Park following reports that a vehicle had struck two pedestrians on the walking path. The caller reported that the vehicle was disabled and the driver, Coleman, had fled on foot.

Both the victims, one of whom was in critical condition, were taken to a hospital.

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Upon arrival, officers obtained witness video showing Coleman exiting the vehicle and heading into the surrounding forest. They used K9 units to find Coleman about half a mile away from the abandoned vehicle.

Officers attempted to arrest Coleman, but he resisted, prompting them to deploy K9 Ralfik. During the struggle, Coleman placed Ralfik in a chokehold, refusing to let go until officers used physical force, according to the affidavit.

One officer sustained a broken hand during the struggle, while the Ralfik was lethargic and showed respiratory distress. Sally Smith, public information specialist for the Jonesboro Police Department, told JRN after the incident that the K9 was fine and was given rest and fluids.

As officers were investigation the Craighead Forest Park incident, they learned that Coleman had struck two other victims at the Walmart Neighborhood Market on Harrisburg Road.

Surveillance footage showed Coleman arriving at the front pedestrian crosswalk, and after yielding to a person on a motorized shopping cart, he steered toward a pedestrian who managed to jump out of the way.

Coleman then accelerated to a high rate of speed out of the camera’s range, where he struck the two victims before fleeing the scene.

One of the Walmart victims, 63-year-old Belinda Adams, was critically injured in the crash. Her daughter, Heather Veteto, told JRN that Adams was declared brain dead on Sunday. Adams officially passed away the following day at 3:38 p.m., according to a social media post from Veteto.

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Traffic camera recordings showed Coleman driving normally toward Craighead Forest Park, then once inside, he navigated the road making a sharp 90-degree left turn off the pavement, followed by a sharp right turn to access the walking path, where he struck the two other victims.

The affidavit said that one of the victims sustained a cut to their head and a broken wrist, while the other was thrown onto the vehicle’s hood, causing several structural damage before being launched approximately 40 feet from the ground.

Police said Coleman attempted to drive away but was blocked by a wood bridge. He tried to go back onto the road, but the terrain was too rough and steep, forcing him to abandon the vehicle and flee on foot.

In addition to the $5 million bond, Thyer ordered Coleman to wear an ankle monitor upon release.

Coleman’s next court appearance is scheduled for Oct. 30. If convicted on the first-degree homicide charge, his sentence could be up to life in prison.

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